Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Washington, DC

Tuesday List: Easy Ways to Extend Learning into Summer

by Leticia

June 09, 2009

With many schools already out for the summer, I’ve already seen the look of dread in some parent’s eyes.  Finding things for kids to do over the summer can be tricky especially if you want them to keep up their skills learned during the school year.

Here are some easy and inexpensive ways you can extend your child’s learning into the summer:

 

• Schedule a library day- Go every week to select new books to keep up beginning reading skills and while you are there, ask if your library has a summer reading program to provide some incentive to keep reading.

• Go on a walk- A walk can be an easy way to practice observation skills that are used in science.  Take a bag to collect leaves, sticks, rocks, etc. and upon returning home sort them to practice classification skills and talk about their attributes to increase your child’s vocabulary while getting some gross motor time in there too.

• Write a letter- Every child likes to get mail so talk to the grandparents or even a fellow parents about being pen pals for the summer.  Write letters back and forth to keep up those writing skills and send along any pictures that your child draws and take along their address to send them postcard from any summer vacation spot.  If your child is too young to do their own writing, have them dictate the letter to you and send along a picture.  Their creation still helps them practice fine motor skills!

• Play with water- The scientific properties of water are intriguing for all children.  Splash in puddles, turn on the hose, and add some bubbles, ice cubes or some food coloring to a tub of water.  Learn about the properties of water as the ice melts and add some measuring cups to the tub to teach about capacity while keeping everyone cool.

• Start a lemonade stand- Meet your neighbors while you have your children practice their money skills.  While you are at it, bake some cookies to practice measurement while you whip up that cookie dough.  Not in the mood to bake from scratch?  A tube of the ready made stuff will do just fine.  Count the cookies once they are cool and learn about half- half to keep and half to sell!

 

 

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Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum-Summertime

by Beth Hoffman

June 03, 2009

I keep swearing that I am sticking to one activity per kid for the summer and spending the rest of our time playing at the pool and visiting new places and attending all the kid-friendly events that happen around here in the summer.  But then I keep finding out about new activities that my kids would love, so I'm having a hard time sticking to it.  In case you are still in the market for some ways to pass the weeks until school starts back up, here are some of the things tempting me:

• Yoga!  Soccer!  Ballet!  Arts and Crafts!  Swimming!  Nature hikes!  Gymnastics!  Once a week classes or weeks-long camps!  And cheap!  Oh, Parks and Recreation, where have you been all my life?  Check out your local county, city or town rec center and see what they are offering for the summer.  My almost-four-year-old could keep herself very bus bouncing from camp to class to activity at the local community center.  We've done several programs there in the past year and they have beenalmost without exception fantatic.
• Most of the indoor playground places (Gymboree, Little Gym, My Gym, JW Tumbles, etc.) offer summer camps for preschool-age and up.  I've been considering Little Gym, where you can do morning or afternoon sessions and can buy anywhere from one day of camp to the entire summer.

No, wait, I have to stop looking or else I'm going to sign the kids up for something every day of the week.  What are your kids doing this summer?  Read more...

Jazz ?N Family Fun Days at the Phillips Collection

by Leticia

June 01, 2009

If you are looking to add the arts into the coming weekend, head to the Phillips Collection for Jazz ‘N Families Fun Days.  In partnership with the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, live jazz performances will fill the museum on June 6-7 to celebrate jazz and the visual arts.  In the galleries art inspires musical interpretation as musicians interpret art through improvised sound and families visit the instrument petting zoo to interact with instruments.  Children will also have the opportunity to listen to a storyteller and create their own art while being in the intimate setting of the Phillips Collection and surrounded by masterpieces by Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keefe, Marc Rothko, and many others. 

Jazz ‘N Families Fun Day is part of the annual Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend. As part of the weekend’s festivities, you can visit other museums located in Dupont Circle and the Kalorama neighborhood that will have family programming and free admission.

Jazz ‘N Families Fun Day- Presented by the Phillips Collection

Saturday, June 6, 10 am - 5 pm 


 

• Click here for the full Saturday schedule and don’t miss Alona Lee’s incredible performance at the Phillips Collection at 10:00 am!

 

Sunday, June 7, 11 am - 6 pm

• Click here for the Sunday Duke Ellington Jazz Festival schedule.

 

 

 

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Weekend Update

by Beth Hoffman

May 28, 2009

Ah, Spring has sprung and the mosquitoes have not.  I think that makes this the perfect weekend to get outside.  Check out the following local events:

Friday Night Live! Summer Concert Series - Every Friday until August 28th from 6:30 to 10:00 at the Herndon Town Green (777 Lynn Street).  This Friday features Black Sheep and next week is Burnt Sienna.  Food and drinks are for sale during the shows.

How Plants Work, A Guide to Being Green - This ongoing exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden.  It is hands-on and targeted for kids, but I think the moms and dads will enjoy it as well.

Walking Town DC - This Saturday and Sunday, Cultural Tourism DC is sponsoring 120 free walking tours around the city.  Check out their website for full details and the schedule.

Night at Mount Vernon - May 29-31 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  Watch the sunset from the lantern lit grounds and interact with historical re-enactors.  Tickets are required, see the website for more information.

Artomatic 2009 - The 10th anniversary of this event opens May 29th and last until July 5 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) at 55 M St. SE.  This month-long art festival is free to the public.  Read more...

Herndon Festival 2009

by Beth Hoffman

May 21, 2009

The Herndon Festival is coming!  Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 28 - Sunday, May 31.  This year, the festival will feature:

• Live Entertainment on Three Stages
• Carnival Rides and Games
• Fireworks Displays on Thursday and Saturday
• Arts & Crafts Show including a Fine Arts Division
• Children's Entertainment
• Children's Hands-On Art Activities
• Business Exposition
• 10k & 5k Races (at the Herndon Community Center)
• K9 2-K & Doggie Expo (at the Herndon Community Center)
• Model Railway Exhibit
• International Foods

Plus entertainmant:

Thursday -The Legwarmers, Ruthie Foster, and Eric Scott

Friday - Lenka, Luke Brindley, and Leaving Texas

Saturday Night - Glen Burtnik and Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

Sunday - Fat Ammons Band and Still Surfin'

and on Saturday & Sunday family-friendly entertainers during the day.

Now, the first time I went to the Herndon Festival was many years ago by pure accident, when we ordered a pizza to pick up from the middle of Herndon and didn't realize the festival would make getting there and back almostimpossible.  In the hours it took us to retrieve dinner, I got a good look at all the goings-on.  Lots fun for the whole family , even the littlest ones.  Be sure to park and take advantage of the shuttles so you don't repeat my pizza debacle.  Shuttles stop at Worldgate Shopping Center and Herndon High School.

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Tuesday List: Family Friendly Ways to Enjoy Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

by Leticia

April 14, 2009

Living in DC, we are exposed to plenty of history and museums so you might wonder why you would want to venture beyond the Metro Area to explore other presidential digs.  Being in close proximity to Mount Vernon and the White House creates presidential intrigue so head south on a road trip to Charlottesville to visit Monticello.

Last weekend we took our two children, ages 5 and 2 1/2 years, to visit Thomas Jefferson's estate and it proved to be a wonderful place for young children.  There are lots of things you can do before you go to give your children some background knowledge about the kinds of things they will see and do.   During your visit there are numerous ways that your children can learn about Thomas Jefferson in an age appropriate way.  

Here are some ways that you can enjoy Monticello and make the most of your time there.

Before you go:

• Download Exploring Monticello: A Guide for Young Learners and share it with your children.  This booklet is more like a picture book that designed to teach interesting facts about Thomas Jefferson, the gadgets and gizmos he invented and enjoyed using, the kinds of music and games played at Monticello, the grounds, and architecture.  The booklet makes it easy for young children to understand and early elementary age kids to read independently.  Reading it prior to your trip will allow your children to have a better understanding of what they will see when they get there.
  
• Take a virtual tour using the Monticello Explorer that allows your to walk through 3-D models of the interior of the home, read about what is inside each room, view animated features, and use an interactive map of the plantation.
• Check out the calendar for Events for Kids which list the dates of the Plantation Community Weekends where the sights and sounds of the early 19th century come to life on Mulberry Row, the plantation “street” along which Monticello slaves lived and labored. Costumed artisans interpret the trades and domestic skills practiced by Jefferson's enslaved and free workers.

During your visit:

• Take a Family Friendly Tour- From June to September, Monticello offers Family Friendly tours that are included in the price of admission.   These special 30 minute tours feature hands-on opportunities in each room and provide a glimpse of what live was like at Monticello for the children that lived there in the late 1700s and early 1800s.  If you happen to visit when the Family Friendly Tours aren’t being offered, our 2 ½ year old and 5 year old enjoyed the regular tour which is also 30 minutes in length.
  
• Visit the Griffin Discovery Room- This new hands on learning center is specially designed for children to interact with American history, Thomas Jefferson, those who lived and worked at Monticello, and experience life as a child during the early 1800s.  The Discovery Room features many elements that are reproduced from Jefferson’s Monticello home like the alcove bed and thee nail-making shop and a slave dwelling on the plantation.  Children can engage in numerous activities including trying on clothes, practicing weaving, rubbing a replica of Jefferson’s tombstone, relaxing with a story about Thomas Jefferson or another American president, using a cipher wheel, or cooking a meal over a pretend fire.  Some of our favorite features of the Griffin Discovery Room included the polygraph machine that allowed us to see how Jefferson was able to make a copy of everything he wrote and the collection of wooden blocks where our 5 year old practiced classical architecture.
  
• Play I Spy inside the house by searching for items of a certain theme.  Look for famous portraits hanging on Thomas Jefferson’s walls, artifacts that indicate an interest in time, or items that are from animals. 
  
• Visit the Mountaintop Hands-On Activity Center.  Open from early June to September, the Activity Center allows children to write with a quill pen, play 18th century games, and engage in other family-oriented hands-on activities which is included in the price of admission.
• Roam the gardens and look for familiar flowers and herbs by rubbing the leaves between your fingers.

 

For more tips on visiting Monticello, visit their page of Insiders’ Tips.

For tips on visiting Charlottesville with your family, read my Being Savvy Washington DC post called Weekend Getaway: Charlottesville, Virginia for the inside scoop on family friendly things to see and do and our favorite places to grab a bite to eat.

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99 Things To Do in DC

by Leticia

February 24, 2009

In no particular order, here’s a list of 99 things to do in the DC Metro Area with a child before they grow up:

1. Head out the night before and brave the elements to obtain coveted tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll
2. Witness the beauty of the cherry blossoms at the Jefferson Memorial at their peak 
3. Go kayaking at Mason Neck State Park in Virginia since it is a great place to spot a bald eagle 
4. Step back in time and go on a canal boat ride in Great Falls or Georgetown 
5. After dinner and a bath, take your PJ-clad child on a tour of the Monuments at night
6. Appreciate the grandeur of the interior space of the National Building Museum then head to the Building Zone to satisfy your child’s inner Bob the Builder 
7. Play at Turtle Park and don’t miss Turtle Park Day  
8. Attend a performance at Glen Echo Puppet Theater 
9. Catch a show at Glen Echo Adventure Theater, DC’s longest running children’s theater 
10. Take a spin on the Glen Echo Carousel and witness the amazing Wurlitzer band organ 
11. Witness air acrobatics at Bealeton Airport Flying Circus 
12. Choose a local farm, bring your own containers, and an appetite to spend a couple hours berry picking
13. Introduce your child to the wonders of live performances at Wolf Trap Theater in the Woods 
14. Attend afternoon high tea at Strathmore Mansion 
15. Witness the power of water at Great Falls
16. Take a seat at the end of the runway at National Airport’s Gravelly Point and watch airplanes zoom overhead 
17. Explore all areas of the National Zoo, including the naked mole rats
18. Feed the koi at the National Arboretum
19. Ponder what George Washington used to think about while sitting on his back porch on Mount Vernon high above the Potomac River 
20. Ride the train and feed the trash pig (a trash can that talks when you throw garbage in it) at Cabin John Park 
21. Throw rocks in Rock Creek
22. Hike part of the Billy Goat Trail 
23. Spend time in the woods just exploring
24. Go camping at a local campground for the weekend
25. Bike the Monuments and the sights of The Mall
26. Go to Sky Meadows State Park for Astronomy Day or a Saturday Star Party
27. Let a butterfly land on you at the Wings of Fancy exhibit at Brookside Gardens 
28. Attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival to witness sheep shearing, partake in the fabulous lamb sold at the concession stands, and be dazzled by all the beautiful hand knit items for sale by vendors 
29. Experience the plethora of fried goods, carnival rides, and animals at a County fair
30. Have a hands on learning day at Port Discovery 
31. Go train crazy at the B&O Railroad Museum 
32. Go plane crazy at the College Park Aviation Museum 
33. Have a cultural experience at an Embassy
34. Ride a restored DC trolley car at the National Capital Trolley Museum 
35. Hunt for shark teeth at Calvert Cliffs State Park 
36. Hum The Star Spangled Banner while paying tribute to the inspiration for our National Anthem during a visit to Fort McHenry 
37. Step back in time to 1771 at Claude Moore Historical Farm 
38. Attend Claude Moore Historical Farm’s Market Fair offered three weekends a year 
39. Engage in hands on science at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum 
40. Enjoy more hands on science fun at the Maryland Science Center 
41. Stare in awe at the most amazing stained glass rosettes at the National Cathedral 
42. Stare in awe at sheets of uncut money at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing 
43. Stare in awe as you take in the scenery from the top of the Washington Monument 
44. Explore every corner of the 2 acre Clemyjontri Park 
45. Procure tickets to an afternoon performance of Cirque du Soleil and witness acrobatics like you’ve never seen before 
46. Cruise the Potomac
47. Attend Art-o-Matic, the free art festival featuring paintings, sculpture, photography, music, theater, poetry, dance and workshops 
48. Visit Cunningham Falls
49. Attend the lighting of the National Christmas Tree
50. Visit the bonfire on the Ellipse during the holidays
51. Catch Vienna based kid rock band, Rocknoceros, in concert for music the whole family will enjoy
52. Join up with Stroller Strides for a great workout and fun scenery and songs for your kiddo
53. Attend the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
54. Marvel at Jim Henson’s creations, First Ladies gowns, and the ruby slippers at the Museum of American History
55. Give your child unrestricted access to the hose one hot humid summer afternoon
56. Go swimming at an indoor pool in the middle of winter
57. Cool off at an ice skating rink during the summer
58. Be a pirate for a day 
59. Visit Meadowlark Gardens 
60. Begin to culture a love of art with a visit to the National Portrait Gallery or National Gallery 
61. Catch a summer movie outside under the stars at the Strathmore Film Fest or Screen on the Green
62. Practice using chop sticks at dim sum 
63. Go fishing 
64. Root for the home team at an O’s or Nat’s game
65. Pretend to be a rocket scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 
66. Go apple picking
67. Take advantage of Free for All Fridays classes at the Roundhouse Theater 
68. See the sights in the snow
69. Visit rescued owls and experience the cave slide at Meadowside Nature Center
70. Enjoy the spectacle of a Chinese New Year’s parade
71. Root for the Ravens or the Redskins either live or on TV
72. Have a SmartTrip card and know how to swipe it to ride the Metro
73. Know which Metro station is closest to home
74. Marvel at the sculptures in the National Gallery Sculpture Garden
75. Seen the inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner at the Museum of American History
76. Witnessed the grandeur of the space shuttle at Udvar Hazy
77. Indulge in a hot dog at Ben’s Chili Bowl
78. Visit all the monuments on the National Mall
79. Write a letter and mail it from the National Postal Museum
80. Visit Roosevelt Island 
81. Walk among the dinosaurs or visit the butterflies at the National Museum of Natural History
82. Visit the butterflies at the National Museum of Natural History
83. Have an ice cream themed birthday party and create your own flavor of ice cream at Moorenko’s
84. Go spelunking at Luray Caverns 
85. Rock out with your kids while sipping coffee at Jammin’ Java 
86. Go on a tour of the White House with tickets from your local Member of Congress
87. Visit an aquarium- either in Baltimore or the one right here in DC!
88. Cool off at Deep Creek Lake
89. Test furniture at IKEA until you get a craving for meatballs and lingonberry sauce
90. Visit a lighthouse
91. Practice espionage at the International Spy Museum
92. Go fly a kite at the Smithsonian Kite Festival on the Washington Monument grounds 
93. Gaze at the stars at the Rock Creek Planetarium 
94. Enjoy a free summer concert at Carter Barron Amphitheater 
95. Watch the tennis pros practice for free before competing in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic
96. Become one with nature at the Audobon Nature Fair 
97. Ogle at sailboats at the United States Sailboat and Powerboat Shows in Annapolis
98. Walk in the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure 
99. Watch 4th of July fireworks on the National Mall
100. Spend a whole day doing what your child wants to do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Savvy Guest: National Children's Museum's Tips for Combating Winter Boredom

by Leticia

February 09, 2009

Today's Savvy Guest post is by the National Children's Museum whose experts are providing fun and educational ideas and activities to cure the cold-weather blues. "The winter months find most families inside, reading books, playing games, and finding ways to keep boredom at bay," said Linda Coulombe, Manager of Science Programs, National Children's Museum. "But most pediatricians and experienced  Read more...

Kid Art Auction for Earth Day 2009

by Beth Hoffman

February 05, 2009

Our fabulous Being Savvy Denver City Editor, Aimee, has recently announced the second annual Kid Art Auction for Earth Day. This effort was started last year when Aimee's six year old son suggested that they hold an art sale in their backyard. Things being what they are, the effort soon made the jump to cyberspace and raised nearly $800 for environmental causes. The concept is  Read more...

Tuesday List: 100 Things to Do Before Kindergarten

by Leticia

January 27, 2009

As a mom of a child who will be a kindergartner this fall, the thought of kindergarten readiness can be daunting. As a former first grade teacher, I often think of the skills that my students entered my classroom with having learned or not learned in kindergarten. It is true that kindergarten is becoming increasingly academic but the chances are if you read to your child, talk to them about the  Read more...

Kicking off the New Year

by Beth Hoffman

December 31, 2008

So, schools have been closed for a long, long time now and I'm sure many of us are looking for ways to get the kids out the house for a day. The good news is that many things are open on New Year's Day. Here are my recommendations for getting the new year kicked off to an educational start. The Smithsonian - all Smithsonian museums are open tomorrow, and most open at 10  Read more...

Savvy Indoor Activities for Winter Months

by Leticia

December 19, 2008

It is that time of year when the days are short, weather is cold, kids are sick, and we find ourselves spending more time inside than weâ??d like. When we start to go stir crazy indoors I find that a good activity puts everyone in a better mood. Luckily the Savvy Source Activity Finder is full of great ideas for the cold winter months. Browse the section called Around the House and find lots  Read more...

Homemade Lift-the-Flap Books

by Beth Hoffman

November 06, 2008

A couple of years ago, my brilliant friend Elaine sent my daughter a book that has been one of her prized possessions ever since. It is a homemade life-the-flap book where all the flaps open to reveal family pictures. My daughter still gets a huge kick out of opening those flaps and announcing that it is a picture of her underneath, or Daddy, or Mommy. They are simple, if a  Read more...

Tuesday List: Places that Inspire Imagination

by Leticia

October 14, 2008

With fall coming and the weather turning colder, Im increasing my stash of supplies for inside craft activities for those days when we really dont feel like going outside. We always find great products when wandering the aisles of art, fabric, and bead stores that inspire imagination. A glittery fabric remnant can be finished to create a play cloth that can be used for a tablecloth, doll  Read more...

Get your craft/rock/green on at Crafty Bastards

by Leticia

September 27, 2008

On Sunday, the 5th Annual Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair will be held in Adams Morgan. Hosted by The Marie Reed Learning Center, Crafty Bastards highlights up-and-coming artists and those newer to the indie craft scene. We stopped by the first Crafty Bastards in Silver Spring at the end of June and were treated to a host of fabulous unique goods. Hand sewn dim sum pieces like cha siu bow  Read more...

Savvy Guest: Creating Budding Illustrators

by Leticia

July 18, 2008

Today's guest contributor is author and illustrator Sharon Pierce McCullough. You may recognizer her name as the creator of the delightful Bunbun series. The Bunbun books are about an endearing rabbit and include titles like Bunbun the Middle One, Bunbun at the Fair, and Bunbun at Bedtime. Today Sharon shares her ideas on how to create budding illustrators. Crayons. These are usually the first  Read more...

Getting Far Away with a Good Book

by Leticia

July 17, 2008

Having spent a couple years in Boston during graduate school, one of my favorite books that always brings me back to Beantown is Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings . My toddler and preschooler can never get enough of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and I'm always willing to read it because there's something magical about the story, with its charcoal illustrations and the tale of the pair of ducks  Read more...

Being Savvy DC's Weekend Picks

by Leticia

June 27, 2008

Lacking plans for the beautiful weekend that is ahead of us? Well look no further! Here are my Being Savvy Washington DC picks for this weekend: Saturday- Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair On Saturday, the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair will be held in Silver Spring, Maryland (just north of the DC line) for the very first time! Hosted by Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Crafty  Read more...

Examining Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery

by Leticia

June 12, 2008

Housed in the historic Patent Office Building, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery is a wonderful place to take your child. The National Portrait Gallery contains 20,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photographs, portrays men and women who have made significant contributions to the history, development and culture of the people of the United States. When you enter the  Read more...

Embrace Your Inner Artist at Artomatic!

by Leticia

June 04, 2008

If you haven't been, now is the time! For 2 more weeks you can experience Artomatic , a a multimedia event, bringing together artists, musicians, and performers under one roof to benefit of the community for free. In addition to the art, there are 2 music stages, a theater, dance space, poetry and film along with rooms full of events . The incredible calendar ensures that there is plenty to  Read more...

The Budding Art Critic: How to Make the National Gallery a Place Your Child Loves

by Leticia

June 02, 2008

In college I was a psychology major who loved taking art history classes. I ended up taking so many art history classes that I had enough credits for a double major. For me, learning about artists and their paintings was just for fun. Every day when my children take out the art box, I watch them and am reminded about the masters I learned about and whose techniques are very similar to those my  Read more...